Local & Legal Assistance Resources

Unemployment, Food Stamps, TennCare and Families First

TN Department of Labor
Go here to apply for unemployment benefits, submit weekly certifications, report a lost check, dispute a claim and look for work.
 
TN Department of Human Services
https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Go here to apply for food stamps, TennCare and Families First. Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov/
Go here to apply for social security and disability insurance.
The local SSA office is located at 921 Congress Parkway N, Athens, TN, (423) 745-7488

 

Housing Resources

Athens Housing Authority
716 Clark St, Athens, TN – (423) 745-0341
The Athens Housing Authority provides housing opportunities based on income within the Athens City Limits. They also manage section 8 housing.
 
Etowah Housing Authority
400 Sunset Dr, Etowah, TN 37331
or
400 Hillside Ln, Athens, TN
(423) 263-2674
The Etowah Housing Authority offers housing opportunities based on income for Etowah, TN. They also manage section 8 housing.
 
Tennessee Housing and Development Agency
The Tennessee Housing and Development Agency is a service designed to help with housing needs across Tennessee. If you are facing homelessness or are homeless at the moment, you may qualify to receive assistance from the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program. If you need help with a home loan, section 8 housing, or rental assistance, THDA can help. If you are looking to purchase a house, THDA offers homebuyer education services and a variety of home loan options.
 
Guide to Avoiding Foreclosures
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website provides information and a library on mortgage management and refinancing, links to foreclosure avoidance counselors, and information on the HOPE for Homeowners program.
 
National Mortgage Assistance Center
The National Mortgage Assistance Center provides mortgage assistance and home loan modification information. This site also provides a page on consumer alerts and frequently asked questions on home loan modifications.

Organizations that help with clothing, childcare, heating costs, housing, transportation elder care, domestic violence, etc.

United Way
The United Way works with local non-profit and charitable agencies to offer services to the community.
 
ETHRA – East Tennessee Human Resources Agency
ETHRA operates a diverse range of programs from services for Senior Adults to Nutrition Programs for Children, from HUD housing assistance to Home Weatherization and Heating and Cooling assistance, from Employment Development and Transportation to Probation Services.
 
 
SETHRA – Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency Public Transportation
(423) 949-2191
SETHRA provides free and low-cost, public transportation in rural areas. They give priority to those with medical appointments and appointments with the Department of Human Services to apply for families first, food stamps, TennCare, etc. SETHRA can also assist with transportation to/from work.
 
Coordinated Charities Agency – Coordinated Charities works to pool all the charitable resources in McMinn County and can help you find the help you need.
1217-A S. Congress Pkwy, Athens, TN 37303 (423) 745-9625

Legal Resources

Legal Aid of East Tennessee –
Legal help for low-income, elderly and abused people.
 
 
Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services
Provides information and resources for legal advocates as well as how-to booklets.
 
Legal and Social Services Assistance

Health

Premier Medical Information Sites

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
Seventeenth Edition. Primarily for medical professionals.

The Merck Manual of Medical Information — Home Edition
Explains disorders, who is likely to get them, their symptoms, how they’re diagnosed, how they might be prevented, and how they can be treated; also provides information about prognosis. 

National Library of Medicine
Home of PubMed, Clinical Trials and more

Tennessee Electronic Library
TEL provides free online access to selected full-text magazine, journal, and newspaper articles. There are two databases geared toward health information, Health Reference Center Academic and Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Sites that provide Health & Wellness Statistics

Tennessee Department of Health

University of Michigan’s Document Center — Statistics on the Web

MEDLINEplus

Healthfinder

Government Sites

Food and Drug Administration — FDA

National Cancer Institute’s CancerNet

Center for Disease Control – CDC

Drug Information

MEDLINEplus

IBIDS Database (Nutritional Supplements)

Alternative & Herbal Medicines

Dr. Duke’s Databases

Healthfinder

Additional Quality Sites

Mayo Clinic

KidsHealth

Immigration

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

(202) 376-7700 National Headquarters
800-552-6843 Complaint Referral Service

Investigates civil rights complaints, and distributes information on law and policies.

Language(s): English, Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Immigrants’ Rights

Multiple local chapters
http://www.aclu.org/immigrants/

ACLU provides a page on immigrants’ rights in both English and Spanish.
Language(s): English, Spanish
Audiences: General, Service Provider

National Immigration Law Center

(213) 639-3900
http://www.nilc.org/

The NILC provides an excellent set of tools and resources for service providers and advocates, with tools organized into: immigration, employment issues, public benefits, obtaining a driver’s license, the Dream Act, etc. There are also online publications, important legal updates, and an e-newsletter to keep you informed.
Language(s) :English
Audiences: Service Providers, Advocates, General

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

(215) 241-7000 National, multiple chapters
http://www.afsc.org/

AFSC locations can be found all across the U.S., as well as throughout the world. The site gives ready access to important news, sections on topics such as immigrant rights and economic justice, and access to all local programs.
Language(s): English site, some Spanish services
Audiences: Service Providers, Advocates, General

League of United Latin American Citizens

(202) 833-6130
http://www.lulac.org/ 

LULAC works for rights in employment, health, education and civil rights.
Language(s): English, some resources in Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

UnidosUs – Latino Civil Rights and Advocacy

(202) 785-1670, and multiple local chapters
http://www.unidosus.org

UnidosUS works through both advocacy and local supports to “improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.” Includes work in the areas of education, assets/investments, civil rights, employment and health.
Language(s): English, some documents in Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

National Immigration Forum

(202) 347-0040
http://www.immigrationforum.org/

As well as breaking immigration news, the National Immigration Forum works through advocacy and public education to uphold the belief that “immigrants are America.” A helpful “community resources” section provides useful tools.
Language(s): Mostly English, some tools/resources in multiple languages
Audiences: Service Providers, General

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)

Multiple regional offices
http://maldef.org/ 

MALDEF focuses on the areas of employment, immigration, education, political access, language, and equity. It provides tools, resources, leadership programs, etc.
Language(s): English, some resources in Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

(510) 465-1984, and multiple local chapters
http://www.nnirr.org/

The NNIRR furnishes advocacy and immigration support, both online and through multiple local chapters.
Language(s): English
Audiences: Service Providers, General

American Immigration Lawyers Association

(202) 216-2400
(800) 954-0254 Attorney Referral Service
http://www.aila.org/

AILA is useful to more than just attorneys: it provides news and updates on recent cases, access to advocacy, publications and other resources. Also features a toll-free lawyer referral service.
Language(s): English, some Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

Immigration Law Portal

(212) 545-0869 (fax)
http://www.ilw.com/

http://www.ilw.com/forms/

Though primarily intended for law professionals, this resource gives ready access to immigration law forms, information, news and other tools.
Language(s): English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese
Audiences: Immigration law professionals, Service Providers, General

At the Library: See also these books in the collection at E.G. Fisher Public Library

U.S.A. Immigration Guide – 342.73082 CAR
U.S. Citizenship for Dummies – 323.6 HEL
U.S. Immigration & Citizenship: Your Complete Guide – REF 342.73 WER (this item does not circulate)

Law

Southeast Tennessee Legal Services
A public service law firm that provides legal forms and support to Tennesseans.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Offers legal advocacy and support to elderly, abused and low-income people.

FindLaw
Provides free access to federal and state statutes, case law, constitutions, and other legal resources.

Legal Information Institute
From Cornell Law School provides summaries and comparisons of state laws on specific topics such as divorce, labor, taxation and alcoholic beverages. 

National Immigration Law Center 
(213) 639-3900
The NILC provides an excellent set of tools and resources for service providers and advocates, with tools organized into: immigration, employment issues, public benefits, obtaining a driver’s license, the Dream Act, etc. There are also online publications, important legal updates, and an e-newsletter to keep you informed.

Language(s) :English
Audiences: Service Providers, Advocates, General

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
MALDEF focuses on the areas of employment, immigration, education, political access, language, and equity. It provides tools, resources, leadership programs, etc.
Language(s): English, some resources in Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights 
510-465-1984, and multiple local chapters
The NNIRR furnishes advocacy and immigration support, both online and through multiple local chapters.

Language(s): English
Audiences: Service Providers, General

American Immigration Lawyers Association
(202) 216-2400
(800) 954-0254 Attorney Referral Service
AILA is useful to more than just attorneys: it provides news and updates on recent cases, access to advocacy, publications and other resources. Also features a toll-free lawyer referral service.

Language(s): English, some Spanish
Audiences: Service Providers, General

Immigration Law Portal
(212) 545-0869 (fax)
Though primarily intended for law professionals, this resource gives ready access to immigration law forms, information, news and other tools.

Language(s): English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese
Audiences: Immigration law professionals, Service Providers, General

Tennessee Resources

TennesseeAnytime
The Official Site of the State of Tennessee

Tennessee Blue Book Online
The official manual of Tennessee state government and includes information on our elected officials, the various branches and agencies of state government, historic and statistical data, and election returns

Tennessee Civil War Sourcebook
Sponsored by the Tennessee Historical Commission, this is an online project that identifies activities and attributes citations dealing with the war in the Volunteer Stat

Center for Business and Economic Research
Source for many statistical sites pertaining to Tennessee, and the United States

Cover Kids
Es un programa de cobertura de salud a bajo costo para ninos y mujeres embarazadas que cumplen con las reglas de elegibilidad para el programa. Si Ud. necesity ayuda con la aplicacion, llamenos al 1-866-626-3409. La llamdada es gratis. Los servicios del interprete del idioma estan disponibles en muchos idiomas incluyendo Espanol.

Vocational Rehabilitation Centers
Helps those who qualify find and keep employment.

Tennessee Code and Constitution
Search the Tennessee state laws

TN Disability Pathfinder / Información de Discapacidad
Information on how to obtain help for family members who may have a disability. Spanish language version is also available.

Tennessee Driver Manuals
Driver’s license study guides in English and Spanish as well as CDL and motorcycle manuals

Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
A definitive and comprehensive reference work on the Volunteer State. Search by keyword for full-text articles, locate historical texts by title or author and browse the Image, Media, and Map Galleries. The site also features “Other Links“, a thorough listing of additional Tennessee historical resources. 

Tennessee Library & Archives Events
Digital Collections from Tennessee Libraries, Archives, and Museums

Tennessee History
A Guide to Primary Sources

Tennessee Statistical Abstract, 2022
Economic and demographic data are presented in easy-to-read tables, maps, and graphs for Tennessee counties, cities, and also southeastern states. In addition to the customary information on population, personal income, and employment, the 2022 edition includes tables with data for affirmative action employment searches, educational attainment, housing prices and retail sales.  Source notes for most tables now include the internet address of the source agency. With detailed information in 19 subject areas, plus rankings and an extensive index, the Tennessee Statistical Abstract is the most comprehensive source available for information on Tennessee. 

Tennessee : Unclaimed Property

Updated daily. Tennessee’s Unclaimed Property Office may have money to return to you! If you have forgotten about a savings account, utility deposit, stock dividend, credit card overpayment, etc., then you should check this site!

Tennessee Virtual Archive
Highlights from the collections of the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA), is a program of the State Library and Archives to create a digital repository of Tennessee history and culture. Their mission is to bring electronic versions of the state’s rich collections to a wider audience. TeVA provides a searchable array of historical records, photographs, documents, maps, postcards, film, audio and other original materials of enduring value.

Volunteer Voices
Volunteer Voices is a state-wide digitization project that will provide access to primary sources that document Tennessee’s rich history and culture. Volunteer Voices combines the collaborative efforts to Tennessee archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and schools. (currently in Beta format)

Credit Reports

How to Get Them

“Free Credit Report” offers – Are they really free?

Many offers come with some strings attached. There are plenty of “Free Credit Report” offers on the Internet these days, and you wonder why. You are probably asking yourself, “Isn’t there any catch to this offer?” The answer is YES. You should be aware that most “Free Credit Report” offers come with a price; it usually means “Free” with the purchase of something else. Or, it might mean free during a Credit Monitoring trial period. Which ever the case may be, these “Free” options can sometimes end up costing you $50 plus if you are not careful. The “Free” aspect of this offer is that you have the option of canceling your subscription over a specified trial period for a full refund. You should, however, cancel the subscription before it is billed to your credit card–usually 30 days from the purchase date. Make sure your read the fine print: find any information that explains why the report is free. Read the service agreement before placing your order: all companies should list a service agreement that you must accept prior to submitting your order, and there is often times valuable information that you should know.

How to get a no-strings-attached FREE credit report

Credit bureaus are bound by the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide you with a free credit report if you meet these specific requirements:

  • You have been denied credit, insurance, or employment within the past sixty (60) days as a result of your credit report. (It is the responsibility of the company that denied you credit or employment to indicate which credit reporting company was used, and the phone number and address for getting the free report. Free reports may not available over the Internet.)
  • You can certify in writing that you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment in the 60-day period beginning on the date in which you made the certification.
  • You are a recipient of public welfare assistance or have reason to believe that your file at the agency contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
  • As a resident of certain states you have a right to a free copy of your credit report:

    If you are a resident of Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, or Vermont, you may receive one free copy of your credit report each year from the each of the credit bureaus. If you are a resident of Georgia, you may receive two free copies of your credit report each year from the credit bureaus. If you meet the above conditions, you can order a Free copy of your Credit Report by contacting them by mail or phone:

    • Experian
      Mail: P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
      Phone: (888) Experian (888-397-3742)
    • Equifax
      Mail: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
      Phone (800) 685-1111
    • TransUnion
      Mail: 2 Baldwin Place, PO Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
      Phone: (800) 888-4213


When you call for a free report, be sure to have the following information about yourself ready …

  • First, middle and last name (including Jr., Sr., III)
  • Current address
  • Previous addresses in the past two years, if any
  • Social Security Number
  • Date of birth
  • Current employer
  • Phone number


Online Credit Reports

What to do if you do not meet the above requirements? There are a variety of inexpensive online Credit Report Services that you can choose from. Here are some of the benefits that you will receive:

  • Online access at the time of purchase
  • Your credit score is also available online
  • Overall better service and experience.


You can order your credit report from any of the following credit service companies or directly from the credit bureaus. When you order your report, have ready your Social Security number,date of birth, current and previous addresses for the past five years, and maiden name, if applicable. Many credit service companies offer a free credit report when your sign up for their credit monitoring service. With today’s technology, credit reports can be obtained easily on the internet. If you haven’t seen your credit report lately, get a 3-in-1 merged credit report from all three major credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each of the three national credit reporting agencies are independent of each other. Therefore what is on one report may or may not be on another. There are a variety of companies that will offer you a credit report online. Some credit reports are easier to read; some are more convenient given your particular situation while others have additional features that you might find valuable. In the end, however, all will provide you with the data you’ll need to be an informed consumer. You’d better check their sample report before you order. You can get your merged or individual report from one of the following credit service companies.

Request your Credit Report from the following services:

  • TrueCredit.com
    They offer 3-in-1 credit report which includes all three credit reports from major credit bureaus: the most comprehensive picture of your credit history
  • Experian.com
    They offer a free copy of Experian Consumer Credit Report when you sign up for their Credit Check Monitoring Service.
  • https://creditxpert.com/ 
    When you sign up for the Credit Manager premium service, you’ll get unlimited access to your Experian credit report. 3-Bureau Credit Report is also available.